Travel + Leisure
28 Jan 2022
Certain morning mistakes can set the stage for an unproductive rest of the day. We checked out what scientists and other experts had to say about making the most (and the least) of the first few minutes after you wake up.
HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON
Resist the temptation to put off the inevitable by 5 or 10 minutes. That's partly because, if you fall back into a deep sleep after you hit the snooze button, you're entering a sleep cycle you definitely won't be able to finish. So you'll likely wake up groggy instead of refreshed.
STAY CURLED UP
People who wake up with their arms in a V shape "are super happy.
By contrast, there's some evidence that people who wake up in a fetal ball wake up much more stressed out.
CHECK EMAIL OR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
If you sleep near your phone, it's easy to roll over and start mindlessly scrolling through your inbox. Don't.
If you start your morning this way you'll never recover.
LEAVE YOUR BED UNMADE
Making your bed is associated with increased productivity throughout the rest of the day.
DRINK COFFEE
Your body naturally produces higher amounts of the stress hormone cortisol, which regulates energy, between 8 and 9 in the morning. So for most people the best time to drink coffee is after 9:30.
If you consume caffeine before then, your body will start adjusting by producing less cortisol in the early morning — meaning you'll be creating the problem you fear.
GET READY IN THE DARK
Your internal body clock is designed to be sensitive to light and darkness. So getting ready in the dark could signal to your body that it's still nighttime and could make you feel even groggier. If it's still dark outside when you wake up, turn on a strong light.
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